The Matrix Is Real / Escape the Matrix

About

The Matrix Is Real is a catchphrase used mostly by influencers who are facing public scrutiny or cancelation that claims "the Matrix" (in this case meaning the dominant powers that be regarding the media, politics and large organizations) is out to get them and is trying its hardest to take them down and silence their opinions through manipulation tactics. The idea that people live in a metaphorical simulation (or "the Matrix") was first hypothesized by sociologist Jean Baudrillard in the 1980s, but the phrase itself was largely popularized throughout the 2020s by internet personalities like Andrew Tate and supported by influencers such as Sneako and Adin Ross. In January 2023, Logan Paul tweeted, "the Matrix is real," inspiring parodies of the tweet, memes and critical discussion on people who use the Matrix as an excuse to shirk personal accountability.

Origin

In 1981, French sociologist Jean Baudrillard published Simulacra and Simulation in which he hypothesizes that modern society is living in a "simulation," although not necessarily literally (i.e. a computer simulation), theorizing that modern society has “replaced all reality and meaning with symbols and signs and that human experience is of a simulation of reality.”^[1] The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy^[2] page on Jean Baudrillard defines his idea of living in a simulation as, "the cultural modes of representation that 'simulate' reality as in television, computer cyberspace, and virtual reality." Beaudrillard's ideas notably went on to inspire The Matrix movie.^[3] Some people believe it's possible we literally live in a computer simulation, including Elon Musk. ^[4]

In modern times, some people have taken this idea and the ideas presented in The Matrix film series and applied them to real life, seeing the most powerful organizations, governmental bodies and the media as the "keepers" of the Matrix who run the dominant narrative and look to take down anyone who opposes it through manipulative means like silencing their free speech, labeling them as dangerous for their ideas and deplatforming them. A comparable idea was first defined on Urban Dictionary^[5] on March 11th, 2004, by the user El Caro, writing:

The Matrix is real. In the movies, The Matrix was symbolized as a computer simulation that is hooked into our brains with wires and computer code. The real Matrix consists of the program that we follow every day when we live our lives. The real Matrix is created through the media and through our programmed interactions with our jobs and with each other. To break free of the real Matrix, one must operate not on logic, but on will. Do what you will, because the only things that stand in your way are only in your way because you believe they are. Do, believe, and feel as you want to. NOT as you are told.

Spread

Andrew Tate's Influence

Influencer and ex-kickboxer Andrew Tate, who was banned from many social media sites in August 2022 for his controversial and misogynistic takes, often refers to the Matrix as a negative force that runs the dominant narrative. In one interview, Tate defines his idea of the Matrix, saying, "When I talk about the Matrix I'm talking about the systems which have been created by society which are deliberately designed to enslave […] you're existing inside a system which is rigged" (shown below).^[6]

Following Andrew Tate's human trafficking arrest on December 29th, 2022, his account posted numerous tweets referring to the Matrix in the following days, seemingly blaming the power of the Matrix for his arrest. For example, on January 8th, 2023, his account then tweeted,^[7] "The Matrix has attacked me. But they misunderstand, you cannot kill an idea. Hard to Kill," garnering over 80,000 likes in three days.

Logan Paul's "The Matrix Is Real" Tweet

On January 10th, 2023, while facing controversy for running an alleged cryptocurrency scam called CryptoZoo and for purportedly abandoning his pet pig Pearl, influencer Logan Paul tweeted,^[8] "the matrix is real. pray you never become its target," garnering over 126,000 likes and 8,900 retweets in a day (shown below).

The tweet was criticized by many on Twitter, including other influencers and creators, some of whom started posting parodies of it. Some also criticized Paul and other influencers for using the Matrix as an excuse to shirk accountability. On the day the tweet was posted, January 10th, Twitter^[9] user @ZacksJerryRig quote-tweeted it, writing, "Love how the internet let's us watch guys like Logan Paul and Andrew Tate pull scams in real time and when accountability comes. They blame the matrix?" garnering over 16,000 likes in a day (shown below, left). On the same day, @jacksfilms tweeted,^[10] "Our keurig broke today. The matrix is real. Pray you never become its target," parodying the post and garnering over 3,000 likes in a day.

On January 11th, 2023, Andrew Tate then quote-retweeted^[11] Paul's post, writing, "You are the Matrix. You are an Agent. But the Matrix is cracking. And now you will pay the price," garnering over 56,000 likes in under a day (shown below).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References